North Carolina

[greenchickenman]

Good to see you to Hollow. Hope all is well at the homestead and that walk way is holding up!

 

[dutchbunny83]

Hi green chicken man!
I talked to you earlier in the week about golden laced wyandottes, didn't realize you were on this site until I saw the link.
Did they hatch?

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Good to see you to Hollow.  Hope all is well at the homestead and that walk way is holding up!

LOL! Hubby rebuilt that as soon as he got back from his trip! It looks like this now:

 

[tammyfarms]

Hehe...if I wasn't about to pop any day now, I wouldn't mind so much squatting outside for an hour picking bugs off and killing them while my other kiddos sleep...but mix pregnancy with the heat/humidity and you have one UNCOMFORTABLE lady...LOL Thank you for the post though, it's been VERY interesting to read. We've had squash bugs even when we didn't plant squash and NOTHING (not even the guineas) ate them. I don't want to try the DE around the base because I know how harmful it can be to beneficial insects as well....so I may just have to try this neem oil - although I have NEVER heard of it before. Not surprising as I am new to gardening!! Many many thanks...I think also next year I will plant some mint next to the fence surrounding the raised beds as that was said to be a deterrent. Thank you again!!

I am a bit late in catching up as I have been outside most of the weekend.... I talked to an organic farmer last year who uses a shop vac to vacuum them off! This is her solution for both squash bugs and stink bugs. She puts a small amount of water with dish soap in the bottom (once the hit the soapy water they can't fly anymore) and just sucks them up with the vacuum. I am going to do this very soon as the little guys are starting to get bad around our plants. I had been able to control them by picking them off until just recently but I am starting to see babies.

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

I am a bit late in catching up as I have been outside most of the weekend.... I talked to an organic farmer last year who uses a shop vac to vacuum them off! This is her solution for both squash bugs and stink bugs. She puts a small amount of water with dish soap in the bottom (once the hit the soapy water they can't fly anymore) and just sucks them up with the vacuum. I am going to do this very soon as the little guys are starting to get bad around our plants. I had been able to control them by picking them off until just recently but I am starting to see babies.

OOhh, thank you SO much!!

I was getting a bit discouraged as I read a forum that basically said we were "stuck" with them, because there's no real good Organic way to deal with them, aside from picking them off by hand. The Neem Oil that was suggested (if used enough) can turn most of the veggies/fruit bitter or at least give them a garlic flavor (garlic flavored watermelon anyone??

LOL). I was NOT looking forward to spending hours squatting in the garden with just over a week until my due date...a shop vac would be SO much faster!! Next year, I am going to make the hubby build something for the vines to climb up on, and perhaps that will lessen our trouble as the nasty buggers don't like the sun!! If not, it'd be easier than crawling underneath all those leaves (and giving myself heart attacks thinking a spider is crawling on me!!)

Too bad the mini heart attacks are not enough to induce labor!!

 

[dutchbunny83]

Has anyone tried Freedom Rangers before?
I just put in for an order of 25 with a friend of mine, she's taking 15 and I'm keeping 10.
They seemed like a good alternative to the cornish crosses because they aren't supposed to have the health problems and they actually move around and act like normal chickens (which may make the processing harder for me, I don't know). I know they don't get as big or have as big of breasts as the broilers, but the way the sellers describe it, the meat's still good.
Just wondering anyone else's experience with them. I got them from Freedom Rangers hatchery, but I believe they're the same thing as the Rainbow Rangers from other hatcheries....

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Good Morning, Happy Chicken People!

I'll be heading back to NC today, with my favorite niece in tow. The program last night was good. Some really good voices in there. But I'll be glad to be home again.

There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home.......

 

[greenacresgrl]

Hi all!
Haven't been on in forever! Stinking FLIES-rainy week again ahead looks like- what are y'all doing for fly control? I have pets around the coops too and hesitant about the toxic treatments/baits.
Have a great day!

 

[greenacresgrl]

Oh- I'll post this separately on sale forum. I have some bearded silkies available! 2 white cockerels, 1 buff cockerel, 1 buff pair. Thought anyone in NC that is interested would see here too as its too hot to ship. All proceeds will go to junior silkie club program. I'll post additional

pics if interested.

 

[dutchbunny83]

I LOVE silkies, but don't want any roos.
What's the junior silkie club???